Hello Again!

Oh, hey there blog world! I've fallen of the place of the planet again (this may be the 10th post I've written like this...but oh well...it's my blog, I can write what I want to...right?!) Not without good reason, wedding month has arrived (22 days and counting!). And real talk here, there just isn't enough time in the day to do it all between my job, wedding plans, and my other side gig, so this blog has been on the back burner as of late. I'm wrapping up my DIY wedding projects, finishing centerpieces, and trying to relax. May 31st is right around the corner. I can't wait for all of my friends and family to arrive to help us celebrate our wedding! We will be headed off to our honeymoon the Monday following our wedding, so except some radio silence before we return to any sort of regular posting schedule - but I do have a few fun posts lined up between now and then...including styling these bad boys.

I've been hard at work with my dear friend, Emily, on our venture, StyleEsque. We've teamed up with Divine Caroline to share how to provide affordable styling tips & tricks for your events and around your home! See a few sneak peaks on our instagram (the photo above is from a recent shoot). In addition, you can also find my archive of DIY projects I've crafted for Divine here. Would you like if I shared them here as well? Let me know in the comments below!

I've alluded to it a few times, but within the next few months The Brunette One will finally be making the switch to wordpress and getting a redesign! I can't wait for a fresh new design. My aesthetic has changed over the last few years and while I'm still all for glitter and pink, I need something more grown up and feels like me! So stay tuned for more updates on the refresh!

You can always follow along on Instagram for daily updates and my Pinterest for daily inspiration!

xx,
Sam

Hump Day

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Don't mind me, I'm just dreaming of warmer weather as we deal with yet another snow storm. I'm not too surprised, there's usually one of these storms hidden up Mother Nature's sleeve this time of year. It's one last reminder of what this cold white powder looks likes before people jet off on spring breaks in the Caribbean in March, followed up with April Showers and May flowers {and a wedding!}. #fourmonthsandcounting 

Still on hitias from the blog until the end of the week…I have one more styled shoot tomorrow and then I'm strictly getting my focus back to my blog and wedding planning. I've had a few things in the works the last few weeks between flying to Vegas for work and Savannah for the blog {you've seen a few sneak peeks if you follow me along on Instagram}. So much to catch everyone up on, I can't wait…so stay tuned, even Lola is making her modeling debut on the blog this week! 

PS. I don't think I've mentioned that I made it back to Vegas for WWDMAGIC. Thank you so much for voting for me and keeping me in the top 8. I can't wait to see what's in store this time around. More on that in the next few weeks as well!

A Case of the Monday's

This past weekend was a bit of a whirlwind in the most unexpected ways. I spent all of Saturday attached to my laptop. I signed up for Blogshop Online and spent the day fine-tuning my photoshop skills and learning new (and much easier) tips and tricks. The above image was one of our practice images. I can't wait to put all of my new skills to use…stay tuned for a full review of Blogshop Online! 

In the mean time, I am traveling for my day job this week to Las Vegas. Upon my return next Friday,  I have two exciting photo shoots lined up next weekend followed by another trip, this time to Savannah the following weekend to speak about social media {not for the day job}! And once I come home from that trip, I have a huge shoot for a freelance project. Whewwww.  Even just looking at the calendar makes me exhausted, so I merely giving fair warning for my radio silence over the next two weeks! 

Life: New Year's Eve

This year we rang in 2014 with a festive fete at Jenny's. We enjoyed an abundance of champagne and confetti and laughed ourselves silly with a game of Cards Against Humanity. 

Here are a few snapshots from our night. 

New Year's Resolutions

I tend to forgo resolutions by the end of January, often times I am too stuck in my ways to ever make any significant changes. I pinned this image a few days ago and couldn't help but agree with everything on the list. 

This year will be one of changes, in five months time I will be a wife. After seven years, I cannot wait to make things official. In addition to the personal changes and a new last name that will be happening, I have a few lofty business goals that I hope to see through and it will take a lot of time and dedication to get where I want to be professionally, but I know I can do it.

In regards to health and fitness, I simply hope to start dancing again and taking time to do yoga during the week {ideally in the mornings after I take Lola out...getting up early is always a challenge}. I received this cookbook for Christmas and hope to cook my way through it this year. 

So there you have it, do you make resolutions? If so, let me know what they are below!

Wishing you nothing but health and happiness in 2014!

Merry + Happy: December Updates

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Is it me or is December this crazy for everyone else as well, and it's only day 5! I'm hoping to slow down a bit to really enjoy the holiday season as it took me awhile to get in the spirit. We put up our tree on Monday evening while watching Elf, it was perfect. I've spent the rest of this week adding holiday charm here and there to our house. Have you started decorating yet?!

Posts are a bit sporadic as real life is keeping me on my toes these days. If you don’t follow along on my Facebook or Instagram, I've started contributing to a few publications in addition to Grey Likes Weddings (which I will be posting to more in the next few weeks as I've finally started diving into the all the details). You can now find me writing for a local magazine as a style contributor, dmJuice and to Divine Caroline as their DIY contributor.

In addition to those freelance gigs, I've started really working on the details of our wedding as I mentioned earlier, we are now six months out (pinch me)! Where does the time go?! We just received second round of engagement photos, and we have been hard at work finalizing our guest list so we can send out our Save the Dates. I went through an internal debate between designing and printing my own, or use a service such as Minted or Wedding Paper Divas. I ended up designing them and will hopefully do the same for our invitation suites.  So if you don’t see me around much on the blog, know it’s because I've finally stopped procrastinating on the wedding front.

I have a few holiday posts lined up next week, but I won’t be doing a gift guide on the blog. Like I've mentioned last week, I've put together all of my favorite finds here & here to help find you the perfect gifts to give this season for everyone on your list! If that isn't enough inspiration, I've curated a few more gift guides over at Divine Caroline: Gifts for the Hostess with the Mostess, Gifts for the College Student, Gifts for Your Apartment, Gifts for the Preppy Girl, and my own wish list!

I've got another busy weekend ahead, my office's holiday party on Friday evening and Cody's on Saturday. Plus our Friendsgiving on Saturday during the day. Sunday you will find me in my sweats and curled up on the couch, all day long, that's for sure!

Life, Lately

I'm still without a computer, so I'm finding ways to blog when I can. Thanks for your patience, as I have a lot of great things in the works! I'm hoping to be back up and running next week. Tonight I'm off to Kansas City for Kansas City Fashion Week and so excited to be reuniting with my KC girls! Being without a laptop the past few weeks, I've noticed how much free time I have when I'm not sitting in front of a computer, it's a blessing and a curse. I was able to clean my entire house on Sunday, and give my full focus to the fall television season premieres - um, #Scandal?! 

We took the first half of our engagement photos on Wednesday & have a few sneak peeks up from our photographer, Aly Carroll. I thought I would showcase a few here, as well as a few more over on Grey Likes Weddings next week, along with talking about registering and prepping for engagement photos, as well as for my first bridal shower on October 12th! This month will fly by before I know it! I just want to make sure we find time to pick out a few pumpkins to carve, throw up our Halloween decorations, and watch Hocus Pocus! 

Images: Aly Carroll Photography

Hair & Make-up: Serenity Aveda Lifestyle Salon

Styling: Samantha Peterson

Life Update

Whew. What a crazy few months it has been. From a trip to WWDMAGIC in Vegas as an official blogger to my first trip to New York Fashion Week thanks to Wallis, to getting back into my everyday casual routine, life has just been nuts. I haven't had much time to breathe since returning from almost back to back trips. And with autumn's official arrival, we dive head first into wedding planning with engagement photos this evening and my first bridal shower in two weeks. I have some great things in the works coming up for The Brunette One, I just ask for patience as I try and balance my full time job, wedding planning, and this blog. Last week I had to deal with some pretty unfortunate things that I can't talk much about here, but I just ask all of you to back up your computers. Stop saying you'll do it tomorrow, next week or next month. Do it now. You will never know when something will happen and everything may be lost forever. Lessons learned. I may be posting sporadically until I am able to get a new laptop - so I just ask for your patience.

In other news, here is what has been keeping me preoccupied this past week:

A casual fall look. Can't wait to recreate this Kendi creation.

Wedding plans, slowly but surely falling into place

This nook. 

Have you ever done a detox?

These cut-out ankle boots are to die for. If only money grew on trees.

I can't wait for Halloween {cue Hocus Pocus on repeat and the Pumpkin Spice Lattes} - too soon?!

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Life: Lake Vermilion

A few snap shots of my vacation last week up north to Lake Vermilion & White Eagle Resort! We made our annual stop at Gordy's Hi-Hat, cooled off with ice cream at Moosebird's {my new favorite flavor, Pirate Booty}, and took in the gorgeous scenery. 

What can I say, Lake Vermilion is my happy place. 

Greetings from Lake Okoboji

Off on a mini vacation! See you Thursday!

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Happy Friday

Well, we made it to Friday! I'm still recovering from last weekend's epic wedding and hoping that my brother and sister-in-law are enjoying sunny Jamaica right now! Tonight I am spending the evening dining with my mom and catching a showing of 'Rock of Ages' at the Civic Center. Tomorrow will be spent getting a new hair cut (saying hello to a lob- long bob-of sorts - eek!) and babysitting my three little cousins. Sunday will be dedicated to working on all my little projects that I can't do during the week {darn that full time job!} for Go Blog Social & the Midwest Style Bloggers - and hopefully doing it from my porch as there is supposed to be some gorgeous weather this weekend!

Have a splendid weekend! 

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Boston, You're My Home

Sometimes, I feel there are not enough words to make things right and the whole world should remain still and silent, if just for a moment. To remember, to pray, and to love. Life is too damn short. Unjust and monstrous moments in time occur. It is in these moments we must be kind to one another, hold onto one another, and to love one another because we only have this one wild and precious life.

To all in Boston: my heart, my thoughts, and my prayers go out to you.

Happy Friday

Thank you so much for your many kind words yesterday. What a day! Woke up to breakfast in bed and an easy day at the office. Rounded out my afternoon with a mani & pedi at Salon Spa W {make sure to ask for Kelly} and dinner with my best friend & momma at Centro. Despite the nasty weather, I forged ahead with wearing a bright outfit to work {bright yellow trousers were no match for the wind & rain} and even wore my birthday dress sans tights AND with open-toed heels. 

This weekend will be spent continuing the birthday celebration birthday dinners planned for tonight and tomorrow night - I have three desserts already piling up in my fridge just waiting to be devoured once I come out of food coma from all these dinners. Birthdays may be the best excuse to overdose on chocolate cake & cheesecake if you ask me! 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

PS. Not even a day over 25 and I'm making headway with my 25 in 25 list. I tried a new-to-me veggie/plant last night, portobello mushroom fries, and my mom signed me up for a few classes at a local gym to get me started on my new work out kick. I even signed up to do the Color Run with my best friend in July. This is gunna be a good year. 

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Twenty Five

Today, I’m a quarter of a century old. I saw this on Facebook the other day and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. I know I’m getting older and time flies much too fast for my liking. But twenty five will be a great year, yet hard to beat twenty four {I switched jobs, TBO took off, I got engaged, just to name a few things…}. I have put together a list of twenty five things I hope to accomplish this next year, much to the tune of this list. 
 

1.    Read 10+ new books {I didn't get the nickname Books in middle school for nothing...}

2.    Take more photography classes & a graphic design class.

3.    Attend a blogging conference….in New York…and attend a show or two while I’m there. {September 2013 via Wallis Fashion}

4.    Establish an LLC for The Brunette One and start working on the next phases of my little corner of the internet. {July 2013}

5.    Plan at least two events for the Des Moines Fashion & Beauty Bloggers.

6.    Truly enjoy our engagement and try to accomplish all of our wedding to-dos by my 26^th birthday {April 11, 2014}, hopefully everything will be set for our May 31^st, 2014 nuptials.

7.    Decorate at least two rooms in our townhome – and photograph them for TBO.

8.    Scrutinize my closet and donate, store, or toss all the things I never wear.

9.    Throw my first dinner party.

10. Invest in a classic, timeless handbag.

11. Take up ballroom dancing, again. {I took it in college, obsessed.}

12. Make it a habit to work out – take a class, sign up for a gym membership, and train for a race? – Disclaimer – I am not a runner. {Signed up for The Color Run – Des Moines on July 13}

13. Send more handwritten notes, thank yous, just thinking of you cards.

14. Take a spontaneous trip with my fiancé and visit a city we’ve never been before.

15. Throw out twenty five things and do not replace them.

16. Eat our way through Des Moines – discover at least ten new restaurants.

17. Take a cooking class.

18. Invest in a few cookbooks or just finally use those recipes I’ve pinned on Pinterest – and cook 25 new recipes.

19. Find the perfect little black dress.

20. Read every Jane Austen novel. {Does not count for #1}.

21. Cut my hair – thinking of a LOB {this may have to wait until June 2014 – post wedding cut}. {See here}

22. Establish an editorial calendar for features like My Style, Nine to Five, Your Life, Styled.

23. Have a staycation in Des Moines this summer.

24. Try five new foods.

25. Put $50 into savings for every goal accomplished {$1250, baby}.

 
Cheers to 25! 

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Spring Break

Yesterday marked the first day of Spring Break at work, which for me, means I get to wear jeans all week long {we call these 'little victories'}.  I'm taking a little hiatus from TBO {don't fret - just for the rest of the week - knowing me I'll have a post up by Friday}.  I'm spending the week prepping some great posts for next week but also enjoying a little quality time with my fiancé and prepping for another weekend in Minneapolis for my future sister-in-law's bridal shower! Hoping it's warm and sunny wherever you may be reading from! 

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Just Be You

When I started my blog almost two and a half years ago, I didn't know what my intent was. I was a frustrated recent college graduate, had moved in with my parents {which wasn't all that bad}, and jobless. I started The Brunette One after reading one too many interior design blogs and recreating many DIYs courtesy of PS. I Made This. One of my first fashion posts was something I created after a recent discovery of Polyvore. I would say from that point, I never looked back. It took months to tell anyone I had a blog. I remember when I first told my family and boyfriend, blog sounded like such a dirty word, but it's crazy the opportunities that have presented themselves since starting this endeavor and I couldn't be more thankful for this space. 

I was recently chatting with a friend of mine who mentioned that she and another blogger got to talking about blogging and the way you look. It stemmed a discussion between the two of us that struck a chord with me. The debate at hand: does the size and or 'look' of the blogger determine how popular that person is in regards to readership and potential partnerships with companies. I started this blog with no expectation and this year hope to turn it into a business. I showcase photos of what I wear, not to show off a new purchase but to show how to put things together that you may have in your own closet. I style outfits and put together collages in hopes of inspiring even just one person. But what erks me is that women still have a view of "If I were skinnier...If I were blonder...if I were taller..." better things will happen for me. We all have our moments of self doubt and moments of I shouldn't have eaten that third piece of chocolate cake, but I would hope that men and women who start style or fashion blogs do it because it is their passion and that they don't compare themselves to any other blog or bloggers {which at times, can be hard not to do}. I realize that I am never going to be five foot eight, I'm a small person and petite is all I will ever be, it's in my blood. But when you come to these places, look for the stylish inspiration in what you read. Not as encouragement to compare the way you look to someone who seems to have it all, whether it be the price tag of their clothes or the way they look. 

At this point, I may be rambling or maybe not making the point I'm intending to make but in whatever you do, whether it's starting a blog or coming to this space, just know that you are you, no one else can be you. You bring something unique and wonderful and beautiful to whichever space you inhabit and people will come to you for that. 

Quote by Tina Fey | Image Created by Samantha Peterson for TBO

Viva Las Vegas

After a long day of travel {delayed flights, etc.}, we made it to Vegas just in time to hit up a bit of Fashion Show Mall {picked up this, this, these, & this - Zara, in person, is the one exception to my shopping hiatus} and a delicious Mexican meal at El Segundo Sol, hello tableside guacamole, and the penny slot machines. I will admit the time change and the long day of travels put me to bed rather early last night, but today,Vegas - I'm ready for you!  I'm here for a work conference the next few days and then staying on through the weekend for a little fun in Vegas with my family - my dad is here for work as well and my mom will meet us on Friday! 

Post may be a bit sporadic the rest of the week - but to make sure to follow along on twitter & instagram!

PS. Make sure to enter the Milani Cosmetics Giveaway - ends on Sunday!

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Taking a Moment

No new fashion posts this week. I’ve taken a mini-break but have some exciting giveaways in the works in the next few weeks. I’ll be back to scheduled posting next week! Hope everyone had a *festive* New Year. Ours was super low key. Had people over for champagne, pizza, and a few games and then made it to just past midnight. The fiancé is under the weather and I was tired from working on Monday. But excuses, excuses – I think I’m just getting older! We spent all of New Years Day in bed, watching movies, napping, a bit of wedding research and reading for me! I just finished Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore – so good, definitely recommend it to those who appreciate a mystery! We then caught the evening showing of Jack Reacher – also a great book series that I recommend by Lee Child. I didn’t think Tom Cruise could fit the bill but he wasn’t half bad. Have you seen Les Miz yet or Silver Linings Playbook? Those are next on my list!

Here’s hoping your Wednesday does not feel like a Monday and thank goodness for short work weeks.

Happy 2013!

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2013

 

The biggest thank you to all of my readers, friends, and family for your support of The Brunette One – it means the world! 2012 may have been my best year yet {see here, here, and especially here} but I can’t wait to see what 2013 will bring. Cheers to you and yours and wishing you all a very Happy New Year! 

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Merry Christmas

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